Left sponsored bandh holds Kolkata to ransom

DAILY LIFE CRIPPLED: West Bengal and Kerala were the worst hit by the Left-sponsored bandh.

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New Delhi: Akriti is a student who has all the way from Bhagalpur in the hope of making it on time to Mumbai for her admission in a leading medical college. However, was stranded by the state-wide strike called by the ruling CPM protesting the fuel price hike. Akriti is one among the many who were caught unawares by the bandh.

"I am from Bhagalpur. I was trying to go to Mumbai to get admission in a medical college, but I don't think that I will make it in time," she said.

And it was not only Mumbai that was affected. For many in Kolkata, the bandh has been a way to enjoy a longer weekend, but for all those in a rush to attend to their daily needs — from office goers and patients to policemen to school children — the total shutdown has been annoying, just another day wasted in symbolism that achieved little.

Students from out of town were upset that they could not make it to their institutes in time, others could not get cabs while still others said that they had never seen such a 'complete' bandh in their home towns before.

In Kerala too, there was 12-hour hartal (strike). All shops, schools and colleges remained closed, but air and rail transport operated normally.

Reports said, the hartal was more in the rural areas than bigger towns and cities.

While West Bengal and Kerala were the worst hit, people across the country in Bihar, Gujarat and Karnataka took to the streets to protest the hike in prices.